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THANKSGIVING LEADS TO THANKSGETTING AT KSB
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, Mark L. Johnston, President and CEO of Kennebec Savings Bank (KSB), announced that the bank’s charitable foundation, The Kennebec Foundation, will make a $10,000 donation to Good Shepherd Food Bank in support of food pantries in Kennebec County this week.
“Thanksgiving is just that, a time when we all ‘give thanks’ for the blessings we have,” said Johnston. “It also is a time to reflect on those less fortunate and to consider ways to help,” he said.
Good Shepherd Executive Director, Rick Small, was ecstatic with the news. “We just don’t generally get these types of gifts,” he said. “I called Mr. Johnston immediately to thank him and Kennebec Savings Bank for doing this.” Small says that the needs continue to grow and obtaining sufficient food donations is becoming an increasing challenge. In Kennebec County, he estimated that 12-15% go hungry on a regular basis, and that the local food pantries can’t keep pace with the increasing demand. According to Good Shepherd’s website, a $100 donation provides 488 meals. Multiply that times 100, and you can see the kind of impact that Kennebec Savings Bank is making with this single donation.
Letters are being mailed to all Good Shepherd member food pantries in Kennebec County this week. Credits to each food pantry will be based on numbers served and will range from $100-$1,000.
Food pantries to benefit from the gift include:
Apostolic Food Pantry in Augusta
Augusta Food Bank
Belgrade/Rome Special Needs
China Community Food Pantry
Clinton Community Food Bank
Elim Christian Fellowship Food Pantry
Fairfield Interfaith Food Pantry
Fayette Baptist Church
Gardiner Food Bank
Greater Waterville Area Food Pantry
Hallowell Food Bank, Inc.
Litchfield Community Food Bank
Lord’s Cupboard Food Pantry
Monmouth United Church Food Pantry
Mount Vernon Food Pantry
North Monmouth Food Pantry
Oakland Food Cupboard
Salvation Army – Augusta
South Gardiner Baptist Church
Vassalboro Food Station Pantry
Windsor Food Bank
Winthrop Food Pantry
Community Reinvestment Officer, George Diplock, feels strongly that this move is important. Diplock, a longtime volunteer of the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen, understands firsthand what food pantries in central Maine area dealing with even before the snow flies. “We hope that this gesture eases the burden for these food pantries and the people who access them, and we also hope that it brings about more support and awareness regarding this crisis in our own communities,” he said.
Because it has no stockholders, the mutual savings bank is able to budget approximately $400,000 - $500,000 yearly in donations it calls “Community Dividends” which it reinvests through hundreds of community organizations and programs. According to Laura Hudson, Vice President and Marketing Officer, who manages the Community Dividends Program, “This year, the needs have far outweighed our ability to meet them, but we couldn’t end 2008 without dealing with this issue,” she said. The Bank has given a major contribution to local food pantries for the past three years in a row. “We are passionate about making sure that our communities have sufficient resources to serve those in need.”
The Kennebec Foundation was created in 1985 as a way for the Bank to support charitable organizations throughout the Greater Kennebec Valley. Underscoring the Bank’s deep commitment to charitable activities in this community, the Foundation's primary goal is to help nonprofit organizations by supporting their programs, campaigns and initiatives.
Kennebec Savings Bank is a $667 million state-chartered mutual savings bank with a team of 76 employees and branches located in Augusta, Waterville, and Winthrop. Kennebec Savings Bank is proud to be Kennebec County’s community bank since 1870.
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